Standings: Week 3 – Is Tampa Bay this good?

Three weeks down and it’s increasingly clear the AL East is probably home to the best and worst teams in baseball. The worst is clear. The best — with the Rays leading everyone — remains to be seen.

Team

W

L

GB

Win %

Streak

Tampa Bay

14

5

—

.737

Won 2

New York

12

6

1.5

.667

Lost 1

Toronto

10

9

4

.526

Lost 2

Boston

8

11

6

.421

Lost 1

Baltimore

3

16

11

.158

Won 1

— YANKEES —

Looking back: An O.K. week on the West Coast. The Yanks lost their first series of the year, but breaking even out west is, in my book, a win. And, if you can believe it, the Yankees are done with the Angels until if/when they see them in the playoffs. Javier Vazquez continues to struggle while Andy Pettitte, meanwhile, has been a beast.

Looking forward: On paper, the next three games in Baltimore — against possibly the worst team in baseball this year — should be a breather for the Yankees. But coming off a bad loss in Anaheim, a couple more in Charm City could be just the thing to send the Yankees into their first bad funk of the season.

– Jordan

— RED SOX —

Looking back: After an absolutely brutal start, the Red Sox regained their footing, winning two of three from both the Rangers and Orioles. Yet each of the four wins was disconcertingly difficult. The Sox won each by just one run, and needed last-minute heroics for several of the victories. But hey, wins are wins.

Looking forward: The Red Sox hit the road, traveling to Toronto and Baltimore. These, quite obviously, are series they need to win. And for the first time this year, the Red Sox will have their pitching staff as they intended, with Dice-K returning from an injury and Tim Wakefield sent to the bullpen. But it seems unlikely that either Jacoby Ellsbury or Mike Cameron will return this week, so they’ll continue to be without two-thirds of their outfield.